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Original poster

4.5 hour flight and no free refreshments?

125 replies

BlueJeansNiceTop · 22/02/2019 09:03

Granted I’m more of a long haul traveller on decent airlines that give you complimentary meals, drinks and booze.

But I’ve just come off a 4.5 hour TUI flight and was astonished not to even get a free cup of tea. Is that the norm now?!

OP posts:
MargoLovebutter · 22/02/2019 10:06

Last time I received a free meal or drink was with Finnair and that would have been 4 years ago, no idea if they are still doing that.

I've flown BA, Malta and Norwegian recently and none of them included so much as thimble of water.

Asta19 · 22/02/2019 10:06

For me though it isn't just about the food and drink. A couple of years ago I was travelling weekly to Germany and ended up with Ryanair as they flew to the town I needed on the days I needed. God I grew to hate Stanstead airport with a passion! Security queues were always so long. In the end I used to pay the extra to go through priority, because I came close to missing my flight a couple of times due to queues (couldn't arrive earlier as I was going straight from work). You get through that and come to the main area that just doesn't feel big enough for the amount of people in it. Then you go to the gate and stand around there for ages. Then the god awful queue to get on the plane, which always seemed to be delayed. My flight home used to land late at night and I remember having to literally run all the way to catch the last train sometimes, because the flight had been delayed. I saw exactly what people mean when they talk about being treated like cattle. It was so stressful.

CookPassBabtridge · 22/02/2019 10:09

Only had food provided once but the ticket cost three times as much as a cheaper airline! I'd rather go cheap and save the money.

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Flying Holidays
RedWineIsFabulous · 22/02/2019 10:11

Yes it’s the normal.

Sign of the times

Bunnybigears · 22/02/2019 10:13

I have never received free refreshments even on long haul.

tierraJ · 22/02/2019 10:16

I've never been in a flight where refreshments were free!

TansyTree · 22/02/2019 10:16

On a short flight with Air France years ago you used to get not just a meal but a little bottle of red wine. Not sure if you still do

WhatHaveIFound · 22/02/2019 10:16

I flown KLM so often that i'm fed up of their weird cheese sandwich/spongy cake/egg wrap options on short flights. So much that last time i decided to eat in the airport and it turned out to be the one occasion I've been upgraded with them . Cue lovely 2 course lunch with wine on offer which i had to eat.

notacooldad · 22/02/2019 10:21

I have never received free refreshments even on long haul
I am surprised at that! Where did you go and where from.
I got sick of food being offered to us on our trip to Australia. There was that much drink and so many snacks I could feel the pounds creeping on before I reached Melbourne!!

Murinae · 22/02/2019 10:22

WhatHaveIFound yes I’m the same. I’m now a gold card member as I fly so often so can go in the lounge for free at Schipol and eat there. I get upgraded about every other flight and usually just take the food home with me and eat it for lunch the next day at work.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 22/02/2019 10:23

EstrellaDam - that WOULD have been painful!
We did a 3hour flight within Australia a couple of years ago where there were no screens - the boys are used to longhaul to the UK, so were totally bewildered at the lack of screens! It was a very tedious flight...

katseyes7 · 22/02/2019 10:23

l remember when we were flying back from Jamaica on a night flight. About 3am they came round with coffee/tea and chocolate doughnuts. Not many people were awake. But l was. :D

GreyGardens88 · 22/02/2019 10:24

I flew with Wow air once, London to San Francisco, no free refreshments whatsoever, not even water, and zero entertainment, imagine that

Bunnybigears · 22/02/2019 10:25

notacooldad New York, Chicago, Las Vegas but I do buy the cheapest ticket possible.

Lweji · 22/02/2019 10:26

I've never been in a flight where refreshments were free!

It just shows you haven't travelled in anything other than low cost flights

Having said that, some low cost tickets can be more expensive than regular airlines, if you buy at the last minute.

notacooldad · 22/02/2019 10:28

notacooldad New York, Chicago, Las Vegas but I do buy the cheapest ticket possible.
I would have done the same and bought my own sandwich. At least then you have a choice in what you get to eat!

JeepRoadTrip · 22/02/2019 10:29

I flew to LA with Virgin last month and they had a “snack wall” full of crisps, biscuits, chocolates etc. A little fridge stocked full of mini cans plus jugs of water and juice. We had loads of food and drink - lunch, snack, afternoon tea and ice cream.

I admit The snack wall was in PE but economy still had the same food and access to jugs of juice and water.

StarlightLady · 22/02/2019 10:29

BA no longer provide “free” refreshments on European flights. Nor will they accept cash on board; card only.

MaudeLynne · 22/02/2019 10:33

We flew to Florida with Swiss Air. They offered food & drink 16 times during the flight - and yes i did count, it's not as if there's a lot to do - meals, chocolates, icecream and lots of drinks.

Do you have to put the meal deals from the airport into your handluggage, or can you just take the extra carrier bag? We're flying with Tui at Easter, it's the first time I've been on a holiday flight, the others have always been proper airlines. Do they provide water?

DontCallMeCharlotte · 22/02/2019 10:34

BA stopped free food and drink a couple of years ago which I think is pretty shameful for a flagship carrier but, as we'd only paid £220 for three nights in Prague, including flights and 4* hotel, I wasn't going to complain.

I flew TAP (Air Portugal) last year to Lisbon. We got free food and wine AND plenty of legroom - I felt I should have dressed up a bit as it was like the "olden" days!

CallMeSirShotsFired · 22/02/2019 10:36

BA no longer provide “free” refreshments on European flights. Nor will they accept cash on board; card only.

However, they will provide a cup of tap water free of charge - I heard this being offered on both outward and return flights. Or you can buy bottled water.

(I guess there is some H&S thing where they can't deny people water, they just prefer to sell it, if possible Wink )

DinaCaliente · 22/02/2019 10:37

@Stopyourhavering64

And Koh Samui airport has got to be the best (if not the weirdest) airport in the world!

scaryteacher · 22/02/2019 10:37

I expect to get a drink and a biscuit when flying to vienna next week, and I think there should be something when we fly to Stockholm. We fly out of Brussels, and it is unusual not to get a coffee on a flight.

StarbucksSmarterSister · 22/02/2019 10:38

Aegean Airlines give you hot food and drink. Even a 45 minute flight Athens to Crete gets you a drink and a snack. The crew are also very friendly.

Germania (German charter operating out 9f Gatwick) have sadly just folded but they used to give you a hot meal too - and barley sugar on take off/landing .

bingoitsadingo · 22/02/2019 10:39

@Dontcallmecharlotte wow I'm surprised! I flew TAP to Lisbon and then on to Brazil and back a couple of years ago and they were the singular most miserable flights of my life! No legroom, the food was revolting, and the in-flight entertainment on the way back was like something out of the ark (4 channels that you couldnt stop/pause and not all in English). Luckily the long ones were night flights so I'd already eaten and just slept.

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